Wendell Castle was an American furniture maker celebrated for his experimental creations in wood and plastic. He was one of the first to create seating, lighting and tables that resemble sculpture, otherwise known as art furniture.
A founding father of the American Studio movement, Castle was known for his craftsmanship and broke new ground in the 1960s with the stack-laminate technique, which involves layering and then sanding thin sheets of wood. In the ’70s, he transitioned to using gel-coated plastic in bright colors.
Castle integrated both mediums in his designs from the 2000s, which, like his vintage pieces, are characterized by curved, biomorphic lines and whimsical undertones (his Molar chair emphasized playfulness and a venturesome sensibility). Ever the innovator, he integrated computers and robots in his later production process to come up with wildly imaginative forms. Castle was working on a new body of work when he passed away in 2018 at the age of 85.
Find a collection of original Wendell Castle furniture on 1stDibs.
Price Upon Request
Box by Wendell Castle
By Wendell Castle
Located in New York, NY
Wendell Castle. Box. 1976. Stack-laminated maple. Signed and dated "WC 76".
Maple
Price Upon Request
Jewelry Box by Wendell Castle
By Wendell Castle
Located in New York, NY
Unique jewelry box in stack-laminated black walnut. Designed and made by Wendell Castle, Rochester, New York. Signed and dated, WC. 73.
Walnut
$210
H 1.38 in W 2.63 in D 2.38 in
Ormolu and Glass Souvenir Trinket Jewelry Box, Nuremberg Castle, circa 1900s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
A gorgeous glass top trinket box made of ormolu and metal. The hinged top featuring a view of the castle of Nuremberg in Germany. No restoration has been carried out on this charming...
Ormolu
Highclere Castle Jewellery Box
By LINLEY London
Located in London, GB
Over the years, British design company Linley has developed expertise in creating scaled versions of famous architectural buildings including the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Royal Albert Hall and the Royal Opera House. In this instance, Highclere Castle...
Maple
Malachite Jewelry Box
Located in New York, NY
A very beautiful and substantial green Malachite decorative or jewelry box, circa late-20th century. This green Malachite box has a hexagon shape with a white onyx marble star with gold gilt detail on top lid. A great decorative piece or jewelry box (as demonstrated), to hold necklaces, rings, earring, cufflinks, etc., on a vanity, nightstand, dresser, desk, credenza, walk-in-closet, etc. Very good condition as shown in images. No chips noted. Dimensions: 3.38" Depth x 4" Width. Purple charoite box shown also available, search 1stDibs ref. #: LU1314228491742 Green malachite box with cameo, search ref. #: LU1314228492012 (SOLD) Small gold and malachite turtle...
Malachite, Onyx
Jewelry box “Owl”
By Mithé Espelt
Located in Paris, FR
Rectangular jewelry box “Owl”, ceramic lid with polychrome enamels highlighted with gold on a crackled background. Original green felt lining. On this box, Mithé Espelt makes gold a...
Ceramic, Wood
Wood Jewelry Box
Located in New York, NY
A rectangular wood box, Postmodern design period, circa late-20h century. Box has three wood hues, velvet lined, easy open/close lid. Very good condition as shown.
Velvet, Wood
Old Chinese Jewelry Box Jewelry Box Jade Brass
Located in Poperinge, BE
Old Chinese wooden jewelry box with brass fittings and a jade plaque centrally placed on the lid, inside a pink/fuchsia lining with gold floral decoration, second half of the 20th ce...
Jade, Brass
Tessellated Horn Jewelry Box by Maitland-Smith
By Maitland Smith
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Tessellated horn jewelry box by Maitland-Smith.
Jade, Brass
$3,600Sale Price|44% Off
H 49 in Dm 26 in
American Studio Craft Lectern / Music Stand Wendell Castle Style
By Wendell Castle
Located in Vero Beach, FL
American Studio Craft Lectern / Music Stand Wendell Castle Style. Extraordinary and masterfully executed music stand in the style of Wendell Castle. Th...
Ash, Cherry
Jewelry Box French
Located in New York, NY
An antique French brass ormolu and velvet jewelry box, Rococo design style, circa late-19th century, France. Box is perforated brass ormolu (ormolu has a design of urns, leaves and f...
Brass, Ormolu
Studio Wood Jewelry Box
Located in New York, NY
A beautiful hand-crafted studio wood jewelry or trinket box, Postmodern design period, circa late-20th century, USA.
Wood
Joy Jewelry Box
By Cassigoli
Located in Milan, IT
A refined gift to an elegant woman or a stunning addition to a personal collection, this jewelry box is a special piece of functional decor that stores precious items, while displayi...
Leather, Wood
Platinum Jewelry Box
By Giobagnara
Located in Milan, IT
This excellent example of masterful artisanal craftsmanship will be a precious functional object of decor, providing a useful storage place for jewelry, while also being a striking b...
Leather, Walnut
Modernist Undulating Patinated Bronze & Enamel Bowl signed Wendell Castle
By Wendell Castle
Located in New York, NY
Add an element of modernist sophistication to your collection with the Undulating Patinated Bronze & Enamel Bowl, signed by Wendell Castle, American, circa 2000. This exquisite piece...
Bronze, Enamel
Wendell Castle One-of-a-kind Carved Box Sculpture 2001 'Signed and Dated'
By Wendell Castle
Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL
"Ceci n'est Pas un Cadeau" (This is Not a Gift) one-of-a-kind carved box in basswood by Wendell Castle, American 2001. Signed on bottom 'Nancy and Wendell Aug 2001 ceci n'est pas un ...
Lucite, Wood
Wendell Castle Cast Bronze Footed Vessels
By Wendell Castle
Located in Rochester, NY
Pair of Wendell Castle designed cast and enameled bronze tripod footed vessels. These were created for the Joe U. Posner Founders Award of the Rochester ...
Bronze
Wendell Castle Molar Chair, Yellow Gel Coat Fiberglass, 1969
By Wendell Castle
Located in Buffalo, NY
An important piece of design history. A Molar Group chair/ sculpture by Wendell Castle, circa 1969. These chairs were only produced for a very short time and were hand made in gel ...
Fiberglass
Wendell Castle, Table Lamp I, USA, 1993
By Wendell Castle
Located in New York, NY
Father of the art furniture movement, Wendell Castle was a sculptor, designer, and educator for more than four decades, influencing the art and design world with his graceful and whimsical pieces. His work has led to the development of handcrafted, modern designer furniture...
Wendell Castle, Tri-Hard Floor Lamp, USA, 1993
By Wendell Castle
Located in New York, NY
Father of the art furniture movement, Wendell Castle has been a sculptor, designer, and educator for more than four decades, influencing the art and design world with his graceful and whimsical pieces. His work has led to the development of handcrafted, modern designer furniture as a major art form and his name is revered above all others in the field. His bold pieces are crafted from rare and beautiful hardwoods, plastics, veneers, and metals in a timeless contemporary style. His expression of color and exotic materials are synonymous with the Wendell Castle name. Born and educated in Kansas, Castle moved to Rochester, New York in 1961 and taught at the School for American Craftsmen. He is currently Artist-in-Residence at the school and maintains his art studio in nearby Scottsville. The Tri-Hard Lamp featured Castle’s classic “pod” shaped legs rendered in carved and polychromed wood. The hammered copper shade...
Wendell Castle Signed Biomorphic Mirror, 1975
By Wendell Castle
Located in Amarillo, TX
Rare stacked laminate mirror by Wendell Castle USA, circa 1975 Oak Signed with artist mark and 1975.19.18 Measures: 16 H x 16 W x 5.5 D in.
Glass, Oak